Friday, October 30, 2015

Life in Lesbos: "The Children's Feet Are Rotting - You Guys Have One Month and Then All These People Will Be Dead"

Here Heartbreaking. People there are trying to help - see article.

And yet there are comments like the below, which leaves one just speechless.

"Andy Williame
The people there are dreamers. Disappointed single women etc... feeling the need to care for something, hoping to get aome affection in return. Understandable. Just keep them there, the rest of Europe is colder and wetter.
27 October at 05:30"

Thursday, October 29, 2015

The Paris Agenda: Leave Fossil Fuels in the Ground, Auction Permits, Protect People | Mike Sandler

The Paris Agenda: Leave Fossil Fuels in the Ground, Auction Permits, Protect People | Mike Sandler 

"Climate campaigners have adopted a slogan for the lead up to the
international climate change conference (COP-21) in Paris this December:
"Leave it in the ground."

"The UN's climate chief Christiana Figueres told the fossil fuel industry, "Three-quarters of the fossil fuel reserves need to stay in the ground."

How much can we afford to burn and stay under or at 2 degrees celsius change?

"...at the low end is McKibben's relatively risk-averse estimate of 565 gigatonnes
(GT) CO2."

"...Carbon Tracker put the number at 975 GT for an 80% probability of remaining below 2
degrees C."

"...(IPCC)'s proposed a budget of 1000 billion tonnes (Gt) of CO2... [for a]... 66% chance of avoiding 2 °C warming."

"But Kevin Anderson of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research notes that
between 2011 and 2014 CO2 emissions from energy production amounted to
about 140 GT of CO2, and when he subtracts emissions from deforestation
and cement production through the year 2100 (60 Gt and 150 GT), then at
the current global rate of 35 GT per year, the remaining 650 GT would be
used up in just 19 years
! This puts the climate talks in Paris in
perspective.

"There is no time for low initial national "contributions"
with "ratcheting up ambition" after 5 or 10 year review periods. The
entire carbon budget will be gone by 2034!
"

The countries of the world have agreed to 2 degrees C, but they have yet to agree on an
approach to leaving the excess fossil fuels in the ground."

"The math is clear: there is a fossil fuel bubble. There is more coal and oil in the ground than we can safely burn. In this framing, the Paris climate conference is really an economic conference, perched on the brink of a market crash in the fossil fuel sector."

As GOP candidates rip CNBC, the media empire strikes back - The Washington Post

As GOP candidates rip CNBC, the media empire strikes back - The Washington Post 

GOP ripping the mainstream media, probably because the GOP is no longer mainstream at all? Hmm.

Ruled mostly by 1950s-style white guys, who think women should stay in the kitchen, gay and LGBT people shouldn't exist, we should f*** up the environment, let the old-white guys rule banks and resources and keep the money -- and the rest of us 98%, well, certainly we are not mainstream.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Headlines on Monday: Middle East Probably Uninhabitable by End of Century; Lions Species Dwindle; Cured Meat (bacon, sausages, cold cuts) Cause Cancer;

Heat - "By the end of this century, areas of the Persian Gulf could be hit by waves of heat and humidity so severe that simply being outside for several hours could threaten human life."
What? Hard to imagine... and yet scientists are projecting it. Not science fiction writers.
Here 
"...truly shocking,” he wrote in an email exchange, and added that he found it ironic, “given the region’s importance in providing fossil fuels.”

Action - "If a major economy takes the lead, warming could be limited to 2°C"
Here
""If either the European Union or the US would pioneer and set a benchmark.... to roughly double their current domestic 2030 emissions reductions targets, which would certainly require substantial efforts. Yet it seems to be one of the few options to stay on track for eventually limiting warming below 2°C and fend off a drastic increase of weather extremes and sea-level rise."
Let's do it US. We have to do it.

Lions dwindle in Africa. Heartbreaking. Brutal indicator species, king of the jungle. One of the most loved, protected. And dwindling.
Here
“We are losing all the populations which are characteristic of the pristine view of lions,” he said. “Lions roaming free, hunting wildlife across the savanna.”
Heartbreaking.

Meat and cancer: cold cuts, bacon, hot dogs, sausages.
Here
Reduce risk: moderation, some avoidance, eating further down the food chain.
"There are several ways. People who eat diets rich in fruits, vegetables and fiber are at lower risk, as are those who exercise. Obesity, smoking and heavy alcohol consumption increase the risk of colorectal cancer. "
Colorectal and other regular screenings of course help. Maybe low-dose aspirin, but that has side effects (see article and research here )

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Study suggests 'Quantum Entanglement' is real | NYC Today

Study suggests 'Quantum Entanglement' is real | NYC Today 

Things are connected. Probably everything is connected. #stopgreenhousegases #stopfuckinguptheplanet

And in a good way, this opens up potential for the human mind, consciousness, and species... for fun, the future and who knows what in the future. Cool.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Deep Sea Bacteria Eats Carbon Dioxide -- HELP

Here Or more accurately produces an enzyme that eats CO2. And produces a benign byproduct. Hopefully well. Example of Hail Mary pass that if not received we are in over our heads.
= #GOPdoomsourclimate #GOPwhoretocoal #GOPwhoretooil

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Props to Canada, Elected Justin Trudeau and Ushering in a New Age

What might a Liberal cabinet look like? - Politics - CBC News 

This helps North America immediately!

A tired, old, conservative, oil-stained conservative Harper -- out, after 10 years. 10 fairly ugly years in my eyes.

A new, fresh, liberal hopeful PM in Justin Trudeau. If he gets his ship in order, and gets with technology and clean energy and shows up in Paris with climate cuts and a progressive package -- I'm celebrating the universe.

He is more multi-cultural than Harper, he has promised to tax the top 1-2% to give tax breaks to the middle class (WE need this in the USA), he is pro-marijuana legalization, he ran a positive camapaign -- the only non-negative ad running campaign I'm told -- this guy is a fresh, new generation leader. Please resist the Keystone XL Mr. Trudeau, modernize your economy, helps us all move forward.

Monday, October 19, 2015

A Few News Items Worth Posting: LA is Built Out, Buy the New 2016 Volt, See Interactive Map: Which Cities You Love Will Go Underwater Because of Global Warming and Sea Level Rise

A few recent headlines and stories worth posting.

LA is overbuilt. No more expansion, no more mega housing complexes, no more traffic please.
Anyone who has been on Sunset Boulevard eastbound after 4pm would agree with the Brentwood lawsuit.
Enough.
http://mynewsla.com/government/2015/10/14/brentwood-residents-sue-l-a-over-school-expansion-citing-bad-traffic/?google_editors_picks=true

My 2014 Chevy Volt has been getting 70+mpg since I got it. Love it. Fast, holds its line, fantastic fit and finish. Built in USA. Most days I burn no oil, not a drop of gas. The new Volt adds 10 more miles all electric to the 40-41 I get. And the review says it is even a better all-around car now.
http://www.slashgear.com/2016-chevrolet-volt-first-drive-13409405/

See which US cities will be underwater, when. Link to Climate Change Sea Level interactive map and graph, below and in article.

Type in your city, or the city of a loved one, and see how underwater it will be:
http://choices.climatecentral.org/widget.html#12/40.7600/-74.0501?compare=scenarios&carbon-end-yr=2100&scenario-a=unchecked&scenario-b=extreme-cuts

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/10/12/this-is-how-rising-seas-will-reshape-the-face-of-the-united-states/


"“The potential magnitude of sea-level rise is staggering,” said Michael Oppenheimer, a Princeton University climate researcher who is on the board of Climate Central and says he offered comment on a version of the study. “In the short term, it risks serious disruption of life along the coast while in the long term, it could lead to obliteration of a large and priceless amount of our cultural heritage, worldwide.”

Friday, October 16, 2015

10 Major Oil Companies Back Agreement to Prevent Climate Change

Here Much too late, too few and too weak. It may be a start. This industry as it is today needs to removed from the planet. Currently it is exactly like a cancer and we need to pursue all remedies to remove it.

Let's hope so. Predictably and time will tell:

Oil companies deny that joint climate pledge is lip service

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Clinton, Sanders dominate Democrats’ first go on the debate stage - The Washington Post

Clinton, Sanders dominate Democrats’ first go on the debate stage - The Washington Post 



There were fantastic, funny and poignant moments throughout this night. And infuriating moments, when a viewer had to consider a number of brutally important issues that were discussed and that we are so far behind on in this country, due largely to the negligence and inaction of Republican factions in Congress. All five brought some great points forward. I'll say that it was a great night.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

62% of Americans Have Less than $1000 in Savings?!!

Here Holy income inequality! This is staggeringly frightening. And pisses one off.
Middle class is poor. This is so wrong it is beyond words.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Almost 100 dead in Turkey After Blasts at Peace Rally in Ankara

Here This is one of the worst atrocities of the year. Basically leaves you speechless with sadness. One day will humankind get beyond this, in how many generations from now?

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Clinton opposes new Pacific trade pact in break with Obama | Reuters

Clinton opposes new Pacific trade pact in break with Obama | Reuters 

This good news.

"Clinton... said she was worried the agreement would not do enough to crack down on
currency manipulation or protect consumers from excessively high drug
prices....

"The bar here is
very high and, based on what I have seen, I don't believe the agreement
has met it," Clinton....

"I don’t believe we
can afford to keep giving new agreements the benefit of the doubt. The
risks are too high that, despite our best efforts, they will end up
doing more harm than good," Clinton said....

Clinton's
opposition, however, could help her shore up support from labor groups
and liberal Democrats who oppose the pact out of concern it will cost
manufacturing jobs and weaken environmental laws."

Governor Brown Signs California's 350 Climate Legislation

Here 50 percent of grid electricity to come from clean sources by 2030; buildings to be 50 percent more energy efficient by 2030. This is very good stuff. The third "3" in the 350 was 50% less gas use in transportation in the state, but the oil lobbies paid and wrangled enough poor politicians to get that removed from the bill. Poor future. Happy rich gas company execs.

Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012

Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012
I've been thinking some about the Winter Solstice, the Mayan end of the 30,000-year-cycle on 12/21/12.

What if in fact the world did end? Even though this probably will not happen, to live consciously it is honest for us to take a bit of an inventory.

Am I happy with how I've lived my life? (Yesterday, I thought mostly yes, with some areas for improvement, as below.) Are there changes I would make?
Would I have tried to forgive those that were hostile or disappointing to me?
Would I spend more time with those I loved the most, telling them that, feeling that more?
Would I be happier, grateful for what I have, what I've experienced, the joy, the beauty in this world?

Maybe the answer is yes to all of the above.
So this time can serve as a point of rebirth for all of us. If we think about it.

Because somewhere along the line I realized I think maybe mankind deserves it. !
The way we are killing each other, killing the planet.
How selfish we are, and snotty to those around us. Petty, competitive. Why is this? Do we have to behave this way? (I say no, it greatly detracts and misdirects energy from the full-time celebration in which we could engage, the great multi-cultural, multi-rhythmic dance we can sustain here.)

Maybe God or the Great Universe is fed up, and will pull the rug out from under us.
Don't think I can say we could blame Him/Her/It.

But it probably won't happen. (Probably not! This time.)

Still we are finite on this ride.

It is a time to think, am I happy with how I've lived my life?
Hopefully most of us can say yes.

For the part of us that have a little worry, a little sadness....
This is the time to be present.
This is the time to be the person you want to be, that can die at peace, that can hope to every day be able to look yourself and the Universe in the eye and say, how beautiful, smiling, and thank you. Let's do that.

Antidotes to Violence, a.k.a., Take Charge of Where Your Head's At - here

Tell Congress to Strengthen Gun Control Laws NOW - here

Good News & Brain Food News -
Christians & Muslims Gather, for Peace here
Good News - Top RIO+20 Summit Posts here
The 'Busy' Trap - NYTimes.com
here